Exorcist: The Beginning Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A priest loses his faith, finds a creepy church in Africa, and suddenly remembers how to believe in God because a demon is being a jerk, all while hyenas have a field day.

🍿 Exorcist: The Beginning: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Haunted by the Past

Following the horrors he witnessed during World War II, Father Lankester Merrin has lost his faith and now works as an archaeologist in Cairo. He is approached by a collector of antiquities with a proposition: to investigate a recently unearthed Byzantine church in the Turkana region of Kenya, built centuries before Christianity was believed to have reached that area.

Unearthing Evil

Merrin travels to the excavation site where he meets Father Francis, a Vatican scholar, and Dr. Sarah Novack, a doctor haunted by her own wartime experiences. They discover the church is remarkably intact, with disturbing details such as angel statues pointing spears downward and an upside-down crucifix. Strange events begin to plague the dig site, with locals disappearing and unsettling occurrences taking place.

The Descent into Madness

As the excavation progresses, Merrin learns that the church was intentionally buried and that it sits atop the ruins of an older, unholy temple. The lead archaeologist, Monsieur Bession, descends into madness, and Merrin uncovers a dark history of violence and evil associated with the site. He realizes they have unearthed something far more sinister than an ancient church.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Father Merrin (Stellan Skarsgård): A former priest haunted by his past who rediscovers his faith while confronting a demonic force in Africa.
• Sarah (Izabella Scorupco): A doctor working in Kenya who becomes entangled in the demonic events and ultimately falls victim to possession.
• Father Francis (James D’Arcy): A young Vatican priest sent to oversee the archaeological dig who supports Father Merrin.
• Joseph (Remy Sweeney): A young boy from a local village who is seemingly touched by the evil presence.
• Major Granville (Julian Wadham): The British military officer in charge of the archaeological dig, representing the colonial power.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Sarah: “He doesn’t care about this whore. But you do… because you want to shove your rotten cock up her juicy ass!” – Sarah says this while possessed, taunting Father Merrin with vulgarity and blasphemy to test his faith.
• Father Merrin: “God is not here today.” – Reflecting on a horrific event during World War II, expressing his lost faith.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $80,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $41,821,986
• Worldwide Gross: $78,110,021

💥 Exorcist: The Beginning Reviews

Personal Review

Okay, so I went into this expecting the worst, and honestly, it wasn’t *completely* terrible. Stellan Skarsgård is always good, and he really sells the whole ‘tortured priest’ thing. The African setting was cool, and some of the visuals were genuinely creepy. But the CGI hyenas? Yikes! And the plot just felt kinda… messy? Like they threw a bunch of scary stuff at the wall and hoped something would stick. I wouldn’t watch it again, but I’ve definitely seen worse horror movies.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of the Exorcist franchise”
  • “Viewers interested in stories about faith and demonic possession”
  • “Those who enjoy gory horror films”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Graphic violence and gore”
  • “Disturbing images and themes”
  • “Religious themes that may be offensive to some viewers”
  • “Scenes depicting animal attacks and child endangerment”

Professional Reviews

• Rotten Tomatoes: “A muddled and ultimately unscary prequel that relies too heavily on gore and jump scares, failing to capture the psychological terror of the original.
• IMDB: “While Stellan Skarsgard delivers a solid performance, the film suffers from a convoluted plot, cheap scares, and unconvincing CGI, ultimately failing to justify its existence as a prequel.
• AllMovie: “Despite its atmospheric cinematography and Stellan Skarsgård’s committed performance, ‘Exorcist: The Beginning’ descends into a predictable and uninspired horror outing, lacking the depth and originality of its predecessor.

Audience Reactions

Skarsgård’s performance as the conflicted Father Merrin was praised despite the movie’s other shortcomings.: Many viewers appreciated Stellan Skarsgård’s acting, even when they disliked the film overall.

The atmospheric setting of East Africa added a unique visual element to the horror.: The film’s location and cinematography were often cited as positives.

Overall Consensus: Despite a strong lead performance from Stellan Skarsgård and an interesting setting, ‘Exorcist: The Beginning’ is generally considered a weak and unnecessary prequel, plagued by a convoluted plot, cheap scares, and subpar special effects.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Paul Schrader was originally hired to direct the film, but Morgan Creek Productions fired him after deeming his version not scary enough. Renny Harlin was brought in for extensive reshoots, resulting in a vastly different film.”
• “Approximately 90% of Paul Schrader’s original movie was reshot by Renny Harlin. This included recasting several roles and changing significant plot points.”
• “The film’s troubled production involved the death of John Frankenheimer, who was initially slated to direct, adding to the behind-the-scenes drama.”

🖥️ How to Watch Exorcist: The Beginning?

Exorcist: The Beginning is available for purchase or rental on various platforms, including Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, and Vudu. Check local listings for cable availability. As a prequel, it can be watched before the original Exorcist film for a chronological viewing experience, or afterward to provide backstory on Father Merrin.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Exorcist: The Beginning, you might like these similar films:

• Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist (2005): This is the original version of the prequel, directed by Paul Schrader, offering a more psychological and less gore-focused take on the same story.
• The Ninth Gate (1999): Features a protagonist drawn into a world of demonic forces while investigating an ancient book, similar to Merrin’s descent into darkness through archaeology.
• The Exorcist (1973): The original masterpiece that started it all, providing the foundation and context for Merrin’s character and the demonic entity he faces.
• The Omen (1976): Explores themes of ancient evil and faith tested by terrifying supernatural events, sharing a sense of dread and religious horror.

🛒 Exorcist: The Beginning Related Products

• The Exorcist (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack): Relive the chilling atmosphere of the original film with this iconic soundtrack, featuring the unsettling score that defined a generation of horror.
• Funko Pop! Movies: The Exorcist – Regan: Add a touch of horror nostalgia to your collection with this stylized vinyl figure of Regan MacNeil, capturing her iconic possessed look.
• The Exorcist – 4K Ultra HD: Experience the original masterpiece in stunning 4K resolution, bringing the horror to life like never before.
• The Exorcist: The Complete Anthology [Blu-ray]: Includes all films of the Exorcist franchise, to include Dominion: Prequel to The Exorcist.

🎧 Soundtrack

Exorcist: The Beginning features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Call to Prayers” – performed by Robert J. Walsh
• “Main Title” – performed by Trevor Rabin (Unreleased)

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Exorcist: The Beginning (2004) – Movie Review

Thinking about watching ‘Exorcist: The Beginning’? This review breaks down whether it lives up to the original. Honestly, I’m curious to know if you agree with his final verdict!

Horror Timelines Episode 24 : the Exorcist

Ever get confused about the Exorcist movies’ order and how they connect? This video lays out the entire timeline. I never knew it was so complex!

Mark Kermode explains his Exorcist obsession

Want to hear a famous film critic geek out about The Exorcist? Mark Kermode’s passion is infectious. This video just might make you appreciate the original even more!

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